Tag: ET
-
STS-135: Tank Camera modification aimed at filming footage of ET-138’s death
Schedules are showing the External Tank camera – which will ride with Atlantis’ ET-138 – is to be modified – allowing it to beam back video of the tank’s disintegration after parting ways with the orbiter at MECO (Main Engine Cut Off). Meanwhile, STS-135’s pad flow now includes the replacement of the left outboard Window…
-
SLS configuration nears decision point – Two-phase approach rejected
A decision on the configuration of the Space Launch System (SLS) Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (HLV) is just weeks away, as final evaluations take place into a “staged evolution of a single heavy launcher”, after NASA’s leadership rejected the two-phase approach, which would have resulted in an open competition for the Beyond Earth Orbit (BEO)…
-
Endeavour suffers from troublesome countdown, APU issue scrubs launch
Shuttle Endeavour – the youngest orbiter in the fleet – was preparing for her final hours prior to launch, after the Mission Management Team (MMT) met to approve the tanking of ET-122. However, several issues popped up in the count, most notably with an OMS tank issue, which was then resolved, prior to a heater issue on Auxiliary Power…
-
STS-134 Agency FRR approves April 29 launch – Storm damage evaluations
Managers at the Agency Flight Readiness Review (FRR) have – as expected – approved April 29 as the launch date for STS-134. The meeting also discussed the health of Endeavour’s External Tank (ET-122), following a bout of severe storm weather at Pad 39A at the end of March – resulting in high wind loads on…
-
STS-135: Atlantis in smooth flow as ET-138 undergoes mods – Hale on stringers
Atlantis is continuing to enjoy a smooth processing flow inside her Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF-2) for the late June STS-135 mission, while her External Tank (ET-138) undergoes radius block modifications to avoid the potential of cracks forming in the intertank stringers. Former SSP manager Wayne Hale also noted the observation of such cracks is a…
-
Discovery launches after dramatic range fix late in countdown
Discovery has completed her final ascent into space, following a 16:53 Eastern launch from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Controllers managed to launch the veteran orbiter with just seconds to spare, as the count was held at T-5 minutes to fix a range issue. A foam liberation impact on the orbiter late in ascent is highly…
-
STS-133: Approval to press towards Agency FRR amid eventful pad flow
Space Shuttle Program (SSP) managers have completed their Delta Flight Readiness Review (FRR) with a decision to press on to the primary Agency FRR next Friday. The expected decision came after managers reviewed the current flight rationale for External Tank (ET-137) following its modifications, although Discovery’s pad rats are having to work through numerous issues…
-
STS-133: GUCP to be disassembled at pad – SRBs into hyper loading tasks
With just over two weeks to launch, engineers will disassemble the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP) at the pad, after it was noted the troublesome hardware failed a leak check. Several contingency days exist in the STS-133 pad flow, as engineers press on with S0024 hyper loading tasks on the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs). STS-133…
-
STS-133: Discovery enjoying early pad flow – ET-137 flight rationale positive
Discovery remains on track for an opening launch attempt on February 24, as the stack is put through S0009 Launch Pad Validation task out at Complex 39A. No issues have been reported, as preparations pick up for the Delta Flight Readiness Reviews (FRRs) – which continue to show a clear path towards the required flight…
-
STS-133 rolls out to 39A – Managers call for ET-122 radius block installation
Discovery has completed her journey back out to Pad 39A with her modified External Tank (ET-137), with first motion at 8pm local on Monday evening, following an issue-free installation of radius blocks on most of its intertank stringers. With a high-level of confidence in the mitigation of further cracks on the stringers during loading and…